KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to the customs authorities and deputy attorney general on a constitutional petition filed by Hanif Moosa against recovery notice issued by Collector of Customs Adjudication.
While the hearing of petition, a two-member bench, comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Omer Sial also directed them to file their respective para wise comments on the next date of hearing.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner and customs department appeared before the court. However, the counsel for the customs authorities sought time to submit para wise comments on the next date of hearing. Therefore, the court adjourned the matter and directed customs officials to file their comments on the next date of hearing.
Earlier, counsel for petitioner stated that petitioner is importer and fulfilling all the requirement according with law, he never involved in any criminal or tax evasion case, however, officials of the customs authorities have lodged first information report against importers /exports of gold amounting to Rs. 8,02,46,932.
He submitted that counsel officials also issued notice for recovery of alleged evasion amount. Being aggrieved it moved to appellate tribunal Karachi which restrained the customs authorities from said recovery, however, customs officials are not following order of the appellate tribunal Karachi.
Citing Collector of Customs Adjudication and Collector of Customs Collectorate of Exports Port Muhammad Bin Qasim as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to declare that act of the respondents is illegal, mala fide and arbitrary, he also pleaded the court may restrain them from recovery of said demand and any coercive action against the petitioner till final order in this petition.
